Often I have read the above verse and thought to myself, poor Paul. It appears he is at the end. Instead of receiving the answer of healing he longed for (so I thought), he must now rely on God's grace to see him through every affliction. Paul had been rendered an invalid.
It was the same feelings of defeat that I had when a crisis arose in my life and I did everything I knew to prevail only to come to the end of my self efforts and finally exclaim with flailing hands, "Well, all we can do now is to pray!"
The Holy Spirit challenged me to a deeper revelation. I sought 2 Corinthians 12:9 through the Greek translation. Sometimes true meanings can be lost in translation from one language to another. Here is the treasure the Holy Spirit revealed to me.
I first looked up the Greek word for "grace", charis. The Greek translation of grace tells us it is God's unmerited, unearned, bountiful favor that swallows up and much more abounds over the prison of sin we are all born into (Romans 5:20 & Galatians 3:22). Charis is also the root of the English word "charisma" which means a compelling attractiveness that can inspire.
Grace from God abounds to, through, and in us and is triumphant! It is the very essence and character of God's nature. Grace is the compelling attractiveness of Jesus Christ. Jesus was filled with charisma.
Then I looked up the Greek word for "sufficient". The English translated word "sufficient" fails to do justice to the Greek word it was translated from, which is arkeo. Arkeo means to be possessed of unfailing strength.
From this simple true and deeper revelation, I could easily see that Jesus is Grace personified and He is our unfailing strength.
What appeared in 2 Corinthians 12:9 to be a response from God to Paul of "You will just have to get by on My grace" was the farthest interpretation from the truth of what God was saying. God was telling Paul, "My Jesus is unfailing strength for you!"
I then understood. His Grace was not for the end of our self efforts, but for the beginning of every trial, tribulation and persecution that attacks us. We are to look to Jesus as our strength and it will be supplied mightily from the hand of God.
Today, with this new revelation, I find myself saying again and again as I walk through the valleys of life, "My Jesus is unfailing strength for me!"
It is also no longer astonishing to me that Paul after receiving this celestial answer gladly gloried in his weaknesses. He saw the power that rested upon him while in his weaknesses. It was Jesus' strength, His dynamite power (the Greek word for "power" is dunamis - where we get our word dynamite from) that was now resting upon him. What other power could ever triumph over that? Could any sickness, disease, weakness or affliction and ailment?
What mountain of affliction are you facing? A broken relationship? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
Your child has chosen the wrong path and told you they no longer want you in their life? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
Your company has decided to let you go? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
Your dearest and closest friend has betrayed you? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
You received a bad report from the doctor? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
Your family and friends do not understand your hunger and thirst for more of Him? Jesus is unfailing strength for you!
Jesus is unfailing strength for you and me!
His Grace is sufficient for you and me!
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